Safety device for faucets, stop-cocks, &amp;c.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

C. A. MANIEX. SAFETY DEVICE FOR FAUCETS, STO P COOKS, &0.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21.1907.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 8 W

. UNITED v STATES CLARENCE ii. MANIEX, or BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FAUCETS, s'ror-cocxs, ac

' Specification of LettersfPatent.

Patented May 19,. 1908.

Application flled'llliarch 21, 1907. Serial No. 368,699.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. MANIEX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Faucets, Stop-Cocks, andtheLike; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to safetydevices for faucets, stop cocks and the like, one object being the provision-of means for simulta'ne ously looking a plurality of faucets or stop cocks or the like, whereby to positively prevent the operation of anyone or more thereof; Another obj ect of my invention is the provision of means whereby any one of a plurality of faucets or stop cocks may be operated while the others are locked against operation.

A further object of my invention is the .provision of means for locking the safety device in any of its adjusted operated can be turned.

Still further objects attained are that the faucets or stop cocks can not be accidentally jarred open nor can the operator mix one fluid'with another by acc'dent.

.To these andother ends, therefore, .my invention consists in certain novel features and combinations such as will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure'l is a perspective view of my invention applied 40. to a series of faucets; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device locked in one of its dispensing positions. l

The. drawings illustrate the invention applied to the faucets at the rear end of an' oil tank wagon to show one embodiment thereof, but it is obvious that the device is capable of manyother applications, or wherever there, is one or more faucets, stop cocks or thelike, the invention being applioableto one faucet as well as to a plurality thereof. These tank wagons are designed with a lurality of com-. partments adapted to contain different kinds ositions so that only that faucet or stop coc which is to be or lost through accidental of .oil and gasolene, the separate compartments communicating with an equal number of faucets.

It occasionallyhappens, through the carelessness andoversight of the operator that he will draw oil from one faucet and then gasolene from another in filling the tanks at retail stores. If he commingles oil and gasolene the resultant mixture will explode when fed to a burner, and such explosions from the above/cause are of comparatively frequent occurrence, and oft-times causes loss of life. Furthermore, when the valve seats have become w0rn,'the valves, faucets, stop cocks or the like have been jarred open while the tank wagon is traveling from store to store, resulting in a loss of oil. With my invention, the operator can not lock his faucets or sto cocks unless they are closed and once locke they can not be jarred open. A ain, it frequently happens that ersons wil sneak up behind'a traveling ta wagon anddraw oil therefrom without paying for the same, which contingency is avoided by my safety device. More particularly is this true in those districts where the driver does not report at night to the supply house, butleaves iswagon'in a barn or shed. I

The usual procedure heretofore. has beento fill the tank wagon, charging the driver with the amounts of oil and gasolene receivedin the tanks. The driver then starts out on his route, stopping at the various retail stores and fillin the store tanks with oil or 85 gasolene which e draws into a five-gallon measure, say. If the store tanks are nearly empty, the driver may have to make, several trips between thewagkon and the store tanks, and is liable to mix oil and gasolene unless 90 paying great attention to his work. With .my invention, it is impossible for him to cause a mixture. At the end of the day, the driver puts hiswagon into a barn or shed, starting out the neigt morning to complete his route and subsequently reporting to the supply house where the amounts of oil and gasoleneremainin in his wagon are noted, as well as the uantlties sold, the result'being compared with the capacity 'ofthe wa on. It is a frequent occurrence that there wi be a quantity-0f oil or gasolene unaccounted for, which may have been surrelptitiously drawn eakage.

checked so that no loss can possibly occur-in ordinary circumstances, and if any loss occurs the fault can be accurately placed.

My invention therefore, consists essentially of a suitably-supported slotted plate adapted to be adjusted to lock or release the faucet or stop cock and cooperating with means for locking the plate in one or the other of its adjusted positions.

In the drawings, I have shown three fau cets (1) (2) and (3) adapted to dispense oil, gasolene and another oil respectively, this being the general arrangement of the faucets on tank wagons. The faucets are of the usual kind, the valve-stems being provided with squared ends, adapted to receivea wrench (not shown) carried by the driver whereby to operate the faucets.

The safety device consists-of a plate (4) provided with approximately rectangular slots (5) (6) and (7) in number corresponding to the number of cocks. In the drawings, I have shown theseslots extending obliquely of the plate, but it is obvious that by arranging the squared stems of the faucets at a different angle the slots might be formed at a different angle to the sides of the plate,

say perpendicularly thereto, for instance.

Each slot intermediate its ends is provided with an enlargement- (8) (9) and (10) respectively, the enlargements of the respective slots being arranged in staggered relation to each other so that no two enlargements would be intersected by a line drawn from end to end of the plate. The squared stems of the cocks project through the respective slotsin tpe plate and are engaged by the walls of the s ots.

A handle (11) may be provided for moving the plate relative to the stems whereby to adjust the plate to permit any one only of the cocks to be operated. l tecesses (12) (12) may be formed in the outer edge of the plate to permit the operator to hang the measures or other receptacles on the cocks.

Anysuitable support for the plate may be provided and as one such means, I have shown the bars (13) (13) projecting at opposite ends of the line of faucets, the bars being provided with longitudinally extending slots (14) (1d) adapted" to receive and slidingly support the ends of the plate or lock (4). One of these bars may be provided with the perforated brackets (15) (1.6), that end of the plate adjacent the brackets being apertured, as at (17) (18). A pin or catch of any suitable form, such as at (19) may be provided for bracket (15), the perforation in which bracket is adapted to register with any one of the series of apertures (17) in the locking plate, the apertures corresponding with the various positions to which the plate may be adjusted to permit one or the other of the not.

locks to be operated, the pin or catch being received in the registering perforation and aperture, to prevent the possibility of accidental change of the plate after it has been set, as by a sudden start of the team or what- Thus the operator, after ascertaining the kind of oil desired by the dealer can set the locking plate so as to allow that faucet only to be operated which will dispense the desired oil.

Thus in operation, if it is desired to draw oil from faucet (1), the operator will move the locking plate two steps inward, thereby bringing the squared stem of the faucet into the enlargement (8) of the slot (5). In order to draw gasolene from faucet (2), it is necessary to move the locking plate three steps inward in the arrangement shown and to draw from faucet (3), it is only necessary to move the locking plate one step inward. Thus it is seen that but one faucet only can be 0 erated, the movement of the plate being ab e'to bring only one of the squared stems into its res'vpqrective enlargement.

hen the wagon is traveling from lace to place or it is not desired to draw oil, t e plate is moved outward to its limit of movement whereby all the squared shanks are embraced by the rectangular slots, in which position the perforation in the bracket (16) will register with the aperture (18) to permit a releasable look as a padlock to hold all the faucets against operatlon. For convenience, in the city, I may employ a snap-hook or similar arrangement instead of a when the wagon is ut in for the night, when the adlock would e used exclusively.

O viously, any kind of pin, catch or lock may be used and it is possible to so arrange the place that a single bracket will be sufficient, and while I do not restrict the applica tion of my invention to tank wagons alone,

padlock, except yet it is lain that it can be applied thereto easily an cheaply without changing or altering the present style in the slightest degree.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A safety device for a plurality of faucet valves, comprising a suitably su ported movable member provided with a p urality of slots adapted to receive the stems of the respective faucet valves to prevent their operation and such slots being provided each with an enlargement at some point in its length, the enlargements being arranged in staggered relation relative to each other to permit any single faucet valve only to be operated at a time.

i 2. A safety device for a plurality of stop cocks provided with stems, comprising a suitably supported member having a series of slots adapted to receive the respective stems to prevent their operation and such slots being provided each with an enlargement at some point in! its length, and means co'oper the valves against operation and to ating with the sup 'ort and en aging the member for releasa l; retaining t e member in any of its adjusted positions, whereby all the stop cocks are locked against operation or to permit any one faucet to-be. operated while retaining the others in locked position.

q 3. The combination with a plurality of any one ofthe valves to be operated w ile retaining the remainder in locked position.

4. The combination with a plurality of valves'having stems, of a support, a slotted member movable relative to the stems to I prevent the operation of all of the valves or to tion, and means cooperating wit permit any one of the valves to be operated/ while looking the remainder aglainst operathe sup ort and engaging the member to releasably ock the latter in any of its adjusted positions.

v5. The combination with the stem of a cock, of a slotted locking member, which slot is rovided with an'enlar ement the stem received inthe slot, the wal s of the slot ada ted to prevent the operation of the stem, t e member being movable relative to the stem to bring the enlargement adjacent the stem, whereby the latter may be operated, apertures in the plate, a perforated bracket, the perforation in which is adapted to register with either. of the apertures and means receivable in the registered a ertures to lock the member in one or the ot er of its adjusted positions.

6. The combination with a plurality of cocks; of adjustable locking means for-lockmg all of the cooks against operation and for permitting any one of the. cooks to be operated while looking the remainder against operation. I

7. The combination with three or more valves adapted to control the assa e of liquids, of means for permitting iqui to flow from any single one of the valves only at a t me.

*8. The combination with three or more valves adapted to control the passage of li uids, ,of means .for permitting any sing e valve to be operated while the remainder are held locked against operation.

9. The combination With a plurality of faucet valves adapted to dispense different liquids, of a member connecting all the-- valves, the connecting means capable of' movement relative to the valves to permit any one only of the valves to be operated n'ecting member in any of its adjusted positions, the member capable of locking a1 while" retaining the others locked against operation, and means for retaining the conthe valves against operation.

10. The combination with a plurality of cocks, of a single adjustable means adapted to lock all the cocks against operation and to permit any one of them to operated while the others remain locked.

' 1-1. The combination with a plurality of cocks, of a suitable support, a late movable relative to the sup ort, the p ate provided with a plurality of arallel slots, each of which slots isprovide with an enlargement, the enlargements being arranged in staggered relation, the plate provided with a se ries of apertures corresponding with the number 0 enlargements and arranged relative thereto, a stationary erforated member with the perforation in w ich the apertures are ada ted to register, and locking means receive in the registering perforation and aperture.

12. The combination with a plurality of cocks, of a suitable support, a late movable relative to the sup ort, the p ate provided with a plurality 0 which slots is provide with an enlargement; the enlargements being arranged in staggered relation, the plate provided with a series of apertures corresponding with the number of enlargements and arranged relative thereto,

a stationary perforated member with the perforation in which the apertures are adapt;

ed to register, locking means received in the registering perforation and aperture, the plate further provided with a single aperture corresponding to the locked position of the plate, a second perforated bracket with the perforation in which the single aperture is .adapted to register and locking means receivable in the registering aperture and perforation to retain the locked osition.

13. he combination with a plurality of faucets, a single plate adapted to control all the faucets, slitted sup orting members in which the ends of the ate are slidably received, the plate provided with a number of slots corresponding to the number of faucets to be controlled, each of which slots is provided with an enlargement, the enlargements arranged in staggered relation, the operating elements of the faucets received 1n the slots, and means for looking .the plate in any one of its'adjusted positions to revent the'operation of all the faucets or all ut one thereof.

14. ;The combination with a faucet having a stem, of an adjustable slotted plate, wh ch slot is provided with an-enlargement therein arallel slots, each of plate and faucets in j at one point, the stem received in the slot adjusted positions, the plate provided with a recess at 1ts outer edge adjacent the faucet to.

afford access thereto.

15. The combination with a plurality of cocks provided with stems, the cock adapted to dispense different liquids, of a slotted plate, the stems receivable in the slots, the plate slidable relative to the stems and havlng enlargements of the slots located in staggered relation to'each other, to prevent the 10 accidental mixture of one liquid with another.

In testimony whereof, I afiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE A. MANIEX. Witnesses:

J. F. WATTS, CHAS. VOELKER. 

